Browsing by Department "Child Health Unit"

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    Open Access
    An exploratory descriptive study of the sexual and reproductive health knowledge of postgraduate students at the University of Cape Town.
    (2018) Mwamba, Bupe; Shea, Jawaya; Mayers, Pat
    Globally and in South Africa, university students’ knowledge of sexual and reproductive health (SRH) is low. This study was conducted in response to the dearth of information about the sexual and reproductive health knowledge of postgraduate students. Research conducted to explore the SRH knowledge of undergraduate students suggests that the level of SRH knowledge among undergraduate students is low. The aim of this study was to determine the SRH knowledge of postgraduate students at University of Cape Town (UCT), in South Africa. A cross sectional survey design was utilized, using an adapted and pretested online questionnaire. All postgraduate students enrolled in the first semester of 2017 (9444) were invited to anonymously complete the online survey. Four hundred and six (406) students completed the online survey, of whom 293 were female and 107 males. The age range of respondents was between 18 years and 57 years, with the median age for both male and female respondents being 24 years. Six survey responses were excluded from the statistical analysis because of incomplete data. Post graduate students from the African continent comprised 90.75% of the respondents. Most respondents were white (51.50%) from both Africa and abroad. The results indicated that respondents knew about sexually transmitted infections, and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) & acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS). Female respondents were more aware of breast examination, and the role of Papanicolaou smear (Pap smear) in SRH. Almost half of the respondents in this study (49%) stated that they had no need for more information about contraceptives. Lecturers were identified as one of the top five sources of information across faculties, which could suggest that the university environment provides students with important SRH-related information. Most postgraduate students had knowledge of sexual and reproductive health with regards to contraception, Pap smear, clinical breast examination, STIs, HIV and AIDS. Further research should focus on the relationship between SRH knowledge and usage among this population. As university lecturers were identified as an important source of information across faculties, the University should consider the incorporation of SRH education in the broader curriculum and as an integral component of student health services.
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    Open Access
    Diagnosis of pulmonary tuberculosis in children - what's new?
    (2007) Zar, Heather J
    The global burden of paediatric tuberculosis (TB) has been underappreciated. Control programmes, focused on adult infectious cases, have largely based case detection and reporting on sputum smear results. However, evidence suggests that in developing countries, where most disease occurs, childhood TB constitutes a large proportion of the TB caseload, contributing approximately 15 - 20% of all cases.
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    Unexplained HIV-1 infection in children — documenting cases and assessing for possible risk factors
    (HEALTH & MEDICAL PUBLISHING GROUP, 2004) Hiemstra, R; Rabie, H; Schaaf, H S; Eley, B S; Cameron, N; Mehtar, S; Janse van Rensburg, A; Cotton, M F
    Background. In the year 2000 we reported possible horizontal transmission of HIV-1 infection between two siblings. An investigation of three families, each with an HIV-infected child but seronegative parents, permitted this finding. Sexual abuse and surrogate breast-feeding were thought unlikely. The children had overlapping hospitalisation in a regional hospital. Since then several cases of unexplained HIV infection in children have been reported. A registry was established at Tygerberg Children’s Hospital for collection of data on the extent of horizontal or unexplained transmission of HIV in children. Study design. Retrospective chart review. Results. Fourteen children were identified, 12 from the Western Cape and 1 each from the Eastern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal. Thirteen (92%) had been hospitalised previously. In the Western Cape, children had been hospitalised in 8 hospitals. Ten of 13 (77%) were admitted as neonates and 9 of 13 (69%) had 2 or more admissions. Intravascular cannulation and intravenous drug administration occurred in all but 2 children before HIV diagnosis. Conclusion. We have confirmed HIV infection in a number of cases where the source of infection has been inadequately explained. Circumstantial evidence supports but does not prove nosocomial transmission. Further studies and identification of medical procedures conducive to the spread of HIV are urgently needed.